Editorial: Nitty-gritty Sustainability meets Orcas Island Government as School Bond Approaches

Disclosure: Margie Doyle, Orcas Issues Editor, is a part-time employee of the Orcas Island School District. All of the facts below are part of the public record.

Big government is us. Every schoolteacher and employee, every Fire Department official, every library employee, every Port and Cemetery employee, every board member of these agencies is a government worker.  We should remember this in the dry and frustrating business of government and budgets and education, even though it’s understandable to turn away from the details and say, “What’s the use, ‘they’re’ going to do what they want anyway.” It’s tempting to throw up our hands and say flatly, “I’m not going to support government – it’s gotten too big.”

Now we are facing a new bond issue from the Orcas Island School District, to pay for the construction of a Career and Technical Education building, a Middle School housing music rooms and a cafeteria, the school library which will continue to be at the “heart” of the campus and district offices. In addition, the bond will take care of aging plumbing and heating systems in the time-tested Elementary Building. How much will this cost?  Estimates are $25,000,000. That’s 25 million dollars.

But the day-to-day reality of it is that 25 million dollars is estimated to cost 37 cents more per thousand dollars per year in taxes already being paid by Orcas Islanders.

Tomorrow, the Orcas Island School District Board invites all the public to meet with them and the school bond project architects to give their input into what construction and programs are desired, how much of a bond to ask for, and the lifetime term of the bond, among other bond matters.

As the current bond expires at the end of 2009, the OISD board and Superintendent have long considered what it will mean to as the community to approve a new bond. Orcas Issues wants to announce early on that it is in full support of the 2010 School Bond. We want to make clear the reasons why we feel this bond should be supported by the Orcas Island electorate.

1)      The OISD has gotten its house in order, following years of flux and budget crises. In 2006, the district had a reserve of less than $6,000; it had no budget history; it had its 3^rd Superintendent in two years, inexperienced financial officers and increased unfunded mandates. One of the results was costly annual audits, for which the district had to pay thousands of dollars.

In the last three years, the district has increased enrollment and grown the reserve fund to a healthy $338,000 as of Oct. 22, 2009. (The target was $237,099). This has been accomplished by intensive budget scrutiny by district officials, aided beyond measure by the labors of the Budget Advisory Committee, composed of Chair Steve Diepenbrock, Nancy Loomis, Carol Sutton, Keith Whitaker, Phil Heikkinen, Sara Morgan and Dave Parish. Their work was praised by OISD Board member Charlie Glasser, who said “[The BAC] is made up of really bright people who did tremendous work that’s beneficial to every kid in school, the people who work here and the whole community.”

The board itself –Janet Brownell, Tony Ghazel, Charlie Glasser, Scott Lancaster and Keith Whitaker — have worked indefatigably to bring the district back to health. There was no bluster among these “government officials,” just nose-to-the-grindstone examination of projected and actual budgets, revenues, expenditures and legal requirements. They were joined by the school administrators and the school board in line-by-line consideration of figures, dates, programs and codes – all the while considering what their deliberations mean to Orcas Island students and their families.

2)      The community has also stepped up on a private donation level, enabling the district to provide programs – and staffing — as the district “righted” its course.  For example — the current Marine Biology and Marine Tech courses are all paid through a single private donation. The community donations have been a significant element to the continuation of diverse and dynamic programming at the school.  “It is a partnership that should be honored as basically saving much of what would have been lost,” said Board President Janet Brownell recently.

The community at large will benefit from the bond passage, for the new buildings will continue and expand the school’s function as a Community Learning Center. From opportunities for adult education, to rehearsal and meeting spaces, the school is open to many public uses. In addition, the Career and Tech Ed program is just one opportunity for adults as well as youth to learn new professional techniques and trades.

3)      The growth of Orcas Alternative Student-Initiated Studies (OASIS) in grades K-12 (now over 100 students) will be important to enrollment in the district.  The bond will help address some capital needs of that vital and growing program.

4)      Career and Technical Education has become increasingly critical to sustainability, even before the dramatic economic downturn of 2008. Traditional construction machinery and manufacturing equipment have been joined by computer programs, electronic tools and advanced techniques to create 21^st century trades essential to the economic and social changes we’re all facing. Career and Tech Ed Director Kari Schuh has spent many hours training and funding this new face of education; some of her endeavors have been a public survey, the Farm Education and Sustainability for Teens (FEAST) classes, and working with nearby educational districts to bring an advanced Marine Technologies program to Orcas Island or Anacortes.

5)      The project architects, Mahlum Architects, and the school board are committed to the implementation of “green” building techniques and maintenance, and to hiring Orcas Island companies as sub-contractors whenever possible – “local built” meets “local grown and raised.”

The Orcas Island School District 2010 Bond will provide for the education and employment of Orcas Islanders for now and for years to come. The bond is conceived with an appreciation for change, as well as for current circumstances. The bond is overseen by a conscientious board, governed by our neighbors who have proven their financial responsibility and commitment to traditional educational values.

The planning process for this bond has been going on for years, and has become more immediate and critical this past year. Every step of the way, the school district has invited and encouraged public input. It is coming to decision time for the public, and tomorrow’s meeting, scheduled for 2 p.m. at the public school library, is an important opportunity to determine what is going on, and to offer our insight.